Research

Research Programme

The AgedBrainSYSBIO research programme is organised in 4 complementary Workpackages (WP1-4) devoted to research and technological development. A specific Workpackage (WP5) will be devoted to dissemination and training activities, i.e. training of young researchers, with the organisation of theoretical and practical courses. Project management (WP6) supports the execution of the project as a whole and is focused on establishing, optimising and implementing the project and the infrastructure for achieving the project goals.

WP1 - Generation of network maps of neuron-centered proteins deregulated in normal ageing and disease. We will take advantage of a huge set of microarray data of control, normal aged and pathological human and mouse brains. We will incorporate novel sets of data (WP2), model potential interactions and test these models (WP3).

WP2. Identification of interacting protein partners in brain ageing-related physiopathology processes including LOAD. We will use yeast two-hybrid approaches from drosophila and human libraries and transgenic mice models to identify local protein interactions in either pre-or postsynaptic regions. Such data will be used to substantiate the models established in WP1 and to connect new relevant pathways to ageing related physiopathology.

WP3. Testing functional pathways by manipulating the expression of key proteins. Functional pathways modeled in WP1 will be tested by manipulating human iPSCs-derived neurons as well as mouse and drosophila neurons, in order to detect pathways that are deregulated in the three species and proteins that display human and/or primate-accelerated evolution.

WP4. Establishment of a proof of concept of drug discovery on these human and/or primate positively selected targets. After convergent selection of innovative target by WP1, 2 and 3, the two SME partners reMYND and HYBRIGENICS will conduct advance validation of three selected interactions as drug target. Intrabodies modulators of interactions will be generated and tested in relevant mouse animal models validated by the pharmaceutical industry.

Last update on 2017-07-22

AgedBrainSYSBIO has received funding from the European Union’s Seventh Framework Programme for research, technological development and demonstration under grant agreement No 305299